DESPITE sitting at the foot of the ladder, the Regional Taxation Services trio of Andrew Cannard, Rohan Reimers and Edi Re all showed excellent form, winning two singles each to defeat second-placed Tankard Dental 8-3.
As well as winning the six singles, RTS were successful in both doubles to cap off a strong performance.
For the second round in succession No.3 Edi Re won two singles, both in lengthy five-setters.
His match against the talented Thanh Nguyen was a highlight as Re recovered from a 0-2 deficit to take the points 10-12, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5.
Later Re then accounted for opposite No.3 Paul Kealley, who has been in great form.
This was another five-set marathon with many brilliant rallies, the final score in Re’s favour 8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10.
Despite the loss, Tankard Dental have held on to second position on the ladder by a narrow percentage margin from Choices Flooring, who defeated Cookes Pools & Spas 7-4.
The turning point in this match came when Choices fill-in Lee Leeson outlasted Cookes’ Russell Walder 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8.
The next two matches went to five sets as well, with Leeson and Wayne Carmichael winning the second doubles in a great comeback by defeating Walder and Kate Carmichael 11-9 in the fifth after trailing 0-2.
The following game was another lengthy five-setter with Wayne Carmichael defeating niece Kate Carmichael in five sets 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8.
Overall there were six five-set matches played, with Choices winning five of these.
Leon Brown showed a return to form, winning two singles, both in five sets. He was on the verge of a hat-trick when he took a two-games-to-love lead against Kate Carmichael but was unable to sustain the pressure, going down in the only five-setter his team lost.
Brown’s skipper Wayne Carmichael continued his good form, winning three singles.
He has only lost one match this season.
Ladder leaders Mallee Bearings were under pressure early against Weightman’s Packaging but recovered from a 2-4 deficit to win 7-4 and maintain their big lead ahead of the remaining teams.
As usual, Joel Thomas won three singles, although he did drop a game against mother Lee Leeson and Jackson Tung respectively.
The second doubles was interesting and potentially could have reshaped the battle for the four points when Jackson Tung and
Dylan Wood, for Weightman’s, were leading 10-6 in the fourth, having a lead of two games to one.
Joel Thomas and partner Daniel Jansen then survived four match points and recovered to win in five sets in a tremendous comeback.
In an amazing finish, Mallee Bearings won the last five rubbers to snuff out an excellent start by Weightman’s Packaging.
RESULTS
PENNANT 1:
Choices Flooring Mildura 7 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Leon Brown 2, Lee Leeson 1) d Cookes Pools & Spas 4 (Kate Carmichael 2, Casper McCarthy 1);
Regional Taxation Services 8 (Andrew Cannard, Rohan Reimers, Edi Re 2) d Tankard Dental 3 (Reece Kurrle 2. Thanh Nguyen 1);
Mallee Bearings 7 (Joel Thomas 3, Liam Wood 2, Daniel Jansen 1) d Weightman’s Packaging 4 (Jackson Tung 2, Dylan Wood 1).
PENNANT 2:
Weightman’s Packaging 7 (Quentin Clark, Brendan Alderton 3) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Peter Midgley, Andrew Jones, Mark Cleary 1);
Choices Flooring Mildura 7 (Jason Gifkins, Kevin Johns, Harry Gujral 2) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Jamie Kealley 3);
Cookes Pools & Spas 9 (Tom Morrison, Marcus Cimino 3, Josh Arnold 2) d Mallee Meats 2 (Shane Carmichael 1).
PENNANT 3:
Exposed Signage/Apparel 8 (Marita Grace 3, Nick Kiapekos 2, Wendy Simpson 1) d Regional Taxation Services 3 (Sam Campbell 2, Ted Cleary 1);
Weightman’s Packaging 9 (Ryan Peterson 3, Koby Grace, Karly Leach 2) d Mallee Meats 2 (Hamish Smyth, Hayden Wilson 1).
PENNANT 4:
Dunkley Scales 6 (Deegan Kerslake 3, Tom Gilmour 2) d Weightman’s Packaging 5 (Curtis Crabtree 2, Raj Gujral, Gary Leach 1);
Mallee Meats 6 (Maria Starikov 3, Jenny Leach, Raylee Waugh 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Katrina Clifford, Nathan Beard 2).
LADDER
Mallee Bearings 49
Tankard Dental 31
Choices Flooring 31
Cookes Pools & Spas 27
Weightman’s Packaging 20
Regional Taxation Services 13
